Battery terminal

Abstract

A battery terminal includes a post clamp for connecting to a battery post. The post clamp includes a post connector having a first connector end and a second connector end with an opening therebetween. The post connector is configured to substantially enclose a first surface of the battery post. A mounting clamp is provided for reducing the opening between the first connector end and the second connector end. A fastener is disposed vertically above the mounting clamp and the post connector. The fastener is configured to be provided vertically above the second surface of the battery post for fastening the mounting clamp to the post clamp.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A battery terminal, comprising:
 a post clamp for connecting to a battery post, wherein the post clamp comprises a post connector having a first connector end and a second connector end defining an opening therebetween, and wherein the post connector is configured to substantially enclose a first surface of the battery post;   a mounting clamp for reducing the opening between the first connector end and the second connector end, and   a fastener disposed vertically above the mounting clamp and the post connector, the fastener configured to be provided vertically above a second surface of the battery post for fastening the mounting clamp to the post clamp.   
     
     
         2 . The battery terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector end is connected to a first angled guide with respect to a first direction,
 wherein the second connector end is connected to a second angled guide with respect to the first direction, and   wherein the mounting clamp contacts the first angled guide and the second angled guide.   
     
     
         3 . The battery terminal of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting clamp comprises a first limb and a second limb,
 wherein the first limb comprises a first limb end and a second limb end corresponding to a first guide end and a second guide end of the first angled guide, respectively,   wherein the second limb comprises a third limb end and a fourth limb end corresponding to a third guide end and a fourth guide end of the second angled guide, respectively, and   wherein a first distance between the first limb end and the third limb end is shorter than a second distance between the second limb end and the fourth limb end.   
     
     
         4 . The battery terminal of  claim 3 , wherein a third distance between the first guide end and the third guide end is shorter than a fourth distance between the second guide end and the fourth guide end. 
     
     
         5 . The battery terminal of  claim 3 , wherein the second distance between the second limb end and the fourth limb end is shorter than a fourth distance between the second guide end and the fourth guide end in an unfastened position. 
     
     
         6 . The battery terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the opening between the first connector end and the second connector end is smaller in a fastening position than when in an unfastened position. 
     
     
         7 . The battery terminal of  claim 6  further including a battery post,
 wherein the fastener is configured to reduce a distance between the mounting clamp and the post connector for reducing the opening of the post connector and fastening the post connector to the battery post. 
 
     
     
         8 . The battery terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting clamp substantially encloses the post connector. 
     
     
         9 . The battery terminal of  claim 8 , wherein an outer surface shape of the post connector is a tapered shape. 
     
     
         10 . The battery terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises a stud and a nut,
 wherein the nut is attached to the mounting clamp, and   wherein the stud is attached to the post connector.   
     
     
         11 . The battery terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the post connector includes one or more protuberances to increase clamp retention onto the battery post. 
     
     
         12 . A method for fastening a battery terminal, the method comprising:
 pressing a mounting clamp to a post clamp in a first direction vertically above a battery post, wherein the post clamp comprises a post connector having a first connector end and a second connector end defining an opening therebetween;   pressing, via the mounting clamp, a first angled guide or a second angled guide of the post clamp to reduce an opening of a post connector of the post clamp in a second direction at a substantially right angle to the first direction;   reducing a size of the opening; and   fastening the post connector to the battery post.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first connector end is connected to a first angled guide with respect to the second direction,
 wherein the second connector end is connected to a second angled guide with respect to the second direction, and   wherein pressing the first angled guide or the second angled guide of the post clamp comprises pressing the first angled guide toward the second connector end of the post connector or pressing the second angled guide toward the first connector end of the post connector.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the mounting clamp comprises a first limb and a second limb,
 wherein the first limb comprises a first limb end and a second limb end corresponding to a first guide end and a second guide end of the first angled guide, respectively,   wherein the second limb comprises a third limb end and a fourth limb end corresponding to a third guide end and a fourth guide end of the second angled guide, respectively,   wherein a first distance between the first limb end and the third limb end is shorter than a second distance between the second limb end and the fourth limb end, and   wherein a third distance between the first guide end and the third guide end is shorter than a fourth distance between the second guide end and the fourth guide end.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein before pressing the first angled guide or the second angled guide of the post clamp, the second distance between the second limb end and the fourth limb end is shorter than the fourth distance between the second guide end and the fourth guide end. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein pressing the first angled guide or the second angled guide of the post clamp comprises:
 pressing the second limb end on the first angled guide between the first guide end and the second guide end of the first angled guide to the first direction, or pressing the fourth limb end on the second angled guide between the third guide end and the fourth guide end of the second angled guide to the first direction; and   shortening the fourth distance by pressing the second limb end or the fourth limb end.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 fastening, by a fastener positioned above the battery post, the mounting clamp to the post clamp.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fastener comprises a stud and a nut, and
 wherein the method further comprises fastening, via the stud and the nut, a top plate of the mounting clamp and a top plate of the post clamp each other.   
     
     
         19 . A method for fastening a battery terminal, the method comprising:
 pressing a mounting clamp to a post clamp in a first direction vertically above a battery post, wherein the post clamp comprises a post connector having a first connector end and a second connector end defining an opening therebetween, and wherein the post connector is configured to substantially enclose a first surface of a battery post;   pressing, via the mounting clamp, an angled surface of the post connector toward a center of an opening of a post connector of the post clamp in a second direction at a substantially right angle to the first direction;   reducing a size of the opening; and   fastening the post connector to the battery post.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pressing the mounting clamp to the post clamp comprises:
 rotating a nut on the mounting clamp to a stud attached to the post connector vertically above the battery post.